Limited Narrator
Grace Lis
4/19
Limited Narrator:
A narrator who presents the story as it is seen and understood by a single
character and restricts information to what is seen, heard, thought, or felt by that
one character
*Typically it will be a third person limited narrator
Simplify the Definition: The narrator is limited to telling the reader exactly what
the character is experiencing.
4/19
Example:
“Harry had taken up his place at wizard school, where he and his scar were famous … but
now the school year was over, and he was back with the Dursleys for the summer, back
to being treated like a dog that had rolled in something smelly. The Dursleys hadn't even
remembered that today happened to be Harry's twelfth birthday. Of course, his hopes
hadn't been high” (Rowling).
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Question #1:
1- How is this an example of
limited narrator? What makes it a
limited narrator?
4/19
Questions:
1)
How is this an example of limited
narrator? What makes it a limited
narrator?
2)
Why might an author use a limited
narrator in their writing? Does it make
the writing easier or more difficult to
understand?
3) Does the use of limited narrators affect
the tone of the writing? Why or why not?
“Harry had taken up his place at wizard
school, where he and his scar were
famous … but now the school year was
over, and he was back with the
Dursleys for the summer, back to being
treated like a dog that had rolled in
something smelly. The Dursleys hadn't
even remembered that today happened
to be Harry's twelfth birthday. Of
course, his hopes hadn't been high”
(Rowling).
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
4/19
Now You Try…
Write a few sentences using a limited
narrator about a kid at an amusement
park!
Things to remember:
-
You are describing what the kid is seeing, feeling,
hearing, thinking, etc.